He swallowed a laugh, knowing her fear was real. “In my experience, more often than not it’s a false alarm.”

She narrowed her gaze. “Haven’t you ever seen The Towering Inferno?”

He chuckled aloud this time. “It’s a bad seventies movie, not reality. But you have a point. Let’s get going. If the shoes don’t hurt, you can keep them on. We’re not going to be running. Just moving quickly.”

She nodded.

“Shoes on or off?” he asked, talking loudly to compensate for the clanging bell.

“On. The heels aren’t that high. I’ll be fine.”

Before she could make a run for the stairs or push through the crowds, Roper slipped his hand into hers and took control. He led her to the fire exit along with the rest of the guests and they maneuvered the long walk down in silence, punctuated by the alarm but with no hint of smoke or fire. Finally they stepped into the front lobby and were greeted by firemen in uniform directing people to the sidewalk across the street.

From what Roper could gather, the fire chief thought it was a false alarm, but until they checked out the building, they couldn’t be sure. Everyone needed to evacuate.

Outside, he caught up with one of his teammates.

Jorge Calderone lifted a hand in greeting. “Someone say Yank Morgan trip on his Noodle and accidentally pull on the fire alarm,” he said in his heavy accent.

Roper shook his head and laughed. “You’re kidding. Was the old man hurt?”

“He’s fine. But Sophia mucho angry that he ruined the party.”

Roper thought of perfectionist Sophie and said, “I just bet she is.”

“I’m not staying to freeze my ass off out here. See ya, mi amigo.” Jorge strode away without looking back.

Roper turned to Amy. “I’d have introduced you to my friend but he took off too fast.”

“Not a problem.” Her voice shook as she spoke and she had wrapped her arms around her upper body as she shivered in the below-freezing temperatures.

He slipped his sport jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders.

She smiled appreciatively. “Thanks. I left my jacket at the coat check when I arrived, and my body is used to much warmer temperatures.”

“I should have figured as much. Can I take you somewhere for dinner? I know a nice place with good food.” The party might be over, but he wasn’t ready to part ways with Amy just yet.

“No thanks. I really should just go home, change and get warm. Oh, no.” She swung around and glanced back at the building.

“What’s wrong?”

She shut her eyes, frustration clear in her expression. “I left my key in my coat pocket.”

He shoved his hands into his front trouser pockets for warmth. “I’m sure the hotel would issue you another one, unless your ID is in your pocket, too?”

“No. But I’m not talking about a hotel key card. I’m talking about the actual key to my apartment.”

“Wait, you live here? In New York?” Suddenly he was wary. Earlier when he’d pursued her, somewhere in the back of his mind was the knowledge that Amy was in town for a short time. No hopes, no expectations to add to his burdens. Except, apparently, he was wrong.

“I just moved here. I’m subletting Micki’s apartment since it’s too small for her whole family and they stay at Damian’s when they’re in the city, anyway.” Amy hopped from foot to foot in order to keep warm. “I take it Micki didn’t mention it?”

Roper shook his head. He was going to strangle his best friend for the omission. If he’d known Amy was a permanent resident, he wouldn’t have restarted his flirtation. He was looking for a quick fix and a good time. Not a relationship with a woman nearby who, though she kept her distance now, would undoubtedly begin to expect something more eventually. He’d had enough of that already.

“I could talk to Sophie or Yank and see if they have an extra key, but they look tied up with the firemen,” she said, glancing over his shoulder. “I guess I’ll just wait.”

Her eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed red from the cold and her curls were tousled around her pretty face. Oh, hell, who was he kidding? Even if he had known she’d moved to town, he’d have had a hard time staying away. Besides, he wasn’t going to over-think this, just make the most of it.

She shivered and he stepped toward the curb, hailing the first yellow cab that appeared and opening the door so she could get in first.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“My place.” Where she could warm up before he took her back to her building to see if the doorman or super had a spare key.

It was New Year’s Eve and he wanted to keep her with him for a while longer.

AMY HADN’T AGREED TO go to his apartment. She just wanted to get warm. She settled into the taxicab seat, then Roper sat down beside her. His body heat rippled through her, warming her when just seconds before she was chilled inside and out.

He rattled off an address to the driver.

“Wait.”

“You need warm clothes and maybe some hot food before dealing with Micki’s grouchy doorman,” he said, before leaning forward and telling the driver to go.

She knew better than to sound like an ungrateful brat, considering she was freezing, hungry and she had nowhere else to go. “Good point. Thanks.” Teeth chattering, she leaned back in her seat for the duration of the ride to his high-rise farther uptown.

When she finally walked into his apartment twenty minutes later, she was immediately reminded that she still wasn’t used to city living. In her old world, one-floor ranch homes were the norm. Her house in Florida hadn’t been huge, but because everything was spread out on one level, the square footage seemed larger. Her father had left her mother with enough insurance money to let them live comfortably, and once her uncle had bought the real estate he’d turned into a retirement community along with his fellow investors, he’d insisted his sisters move there, as well. Amy had lived in one of the smaller units, paying token rent. Here in New York, her new apartment was small and quaint.

Roper’s place was enormous. She sensed how large it was just by looking across, past the sliding doors to the terrace off the living room. Then there was the decor. In a masculine cocoa-and-cream color scheme, the living room held a plush suede sofa and ottoman, two club chairs and a rectangular marble cocktail table in the center. A massive large-screen TV hung on the wall across from the sitting area, while behind the couch, framed artwork made the room come alive.

“Like it?” Roper asked as he tossed his keys into a bowl in a practiced movement.

“It’s gorgeous.”

He grinned. “Thanks. I decorated it myself.” The pride in his voice was unmistakable.

“I’m impressed.” What other hidden talents did he have? Amy wondered.

He shrugged. “Why pay a professional if I can just as easily do it myself? That’s my motto. Anyway, let me get you something to change into. My sister leaves comfortable clothes here in case she’s too lazy to go home, which used to happen pretty often before she met her fiancé. She won’t mind if you borrow them.”

Amy rubbed her hands up and down her arms, covered only by her thin blouse. “Thanks.”

“After you warm up, we’ll talk about what to eat. I’ll be right back.”

She turned to study her surroundings once more, her gaze coming to rest on the trophies in a dark wood cabinet with glass doors. MVP, Golden Glove and other notable mentions were inscribed on plaques with John Roper’s name.

He walked back into the room with a stack of clothes in his hand. “Take your pick.”

“Nice set of awards. Once again, you’ve impressed me,” she said as she accepted a sweat outfit.

“I hope the awards aren’t the only things you like about me, because you know what they say, all good things come to an end.” He studied her through narrowed eyes.

“I don’t know you well enough to know what I like about you.” She knew better than to mention the career problems she’d just learned about tonight.

“Good answer.” He smiled and his eyes softened, warming her a bit more.

She supposed it couldn’t be easy to meet women and not know whether they were interested in him or in his status and money. Amy had no use for either. She’d grown up comfortable and didn’t need excessive luxury, although what her mother couldn’t afford, her uncle had always provided. But Amy never took having material things for granted. Love and family were much more important than money. But he didn’t know enough about her to understand she was a genuine person and she knew better than to try to convince him with mere words.

She had already seen there was more to Roper than the player she’d assumed him to be. Like his ability to apologize for mistakes and his chivalry in bringing her back here to warm up with seemingly no ulterior motive.

“Let’s get to know each other better over a good meal. While you change, I’ll fix us up something to eat,” he said.

“There’s no need for you to go to any trouble. We can order in. It’s easier. And I ought to know-I’ve been living on takeout.”

Although she had essentially been the caretaker in the family, keeping everyone busy and out of trouble, she’d also been spoiled by living near her mother and aunt. They’d served her home-cooked meals and delivered them to her doorstep if she wanted to be alone. She hadn’t had to worry about fixing things for herself, which was a good thing, because she was a hazard in the kitchen. Here in New York, she’d been too busy making Micki’s apartment her own and learning her way around the city to attempt making meals, too.

“That settles it, then. I’m definitely cooking. It relaxes me, and besides, it’s healthier than eating the fried food and heavy sauces you’ll find in takeout.”